So the last few weeks I've been rolling my small cuts and bolting my longer ones, and I love it (found stuff I had no idea I had!)... except now I don't know what to do with all these bolts! I was inspired by the quilt shop where I took a class this summer--she has everything on beautiful bookcases (and that's also where I got the empty bolts!).

After the new year, I'm going to have an entire wall in my office/craft room free for storage (an ancient desk and an even more ancient computer are there now, never, ever, ever used... and I've told DH they are GOING!). I would love to have some shelves to put my bolted fabric on, but I'm not really sure what I'm looking for.

The rest of the furniture in the room looks like this:

I have one entire wall of those units, and a matching barrister's bookcase (glass doors) on another wall. They also make an armoire that's very nice (we have one that holds all DH's clothes in our bedroom). I spent a lot of time decorating and organizing that room (it's technically my office, even though I don't actually work in there), so I'd love something that looked equally nice.

I have two full-length closets in the room, but they're full. Most of my bolts are 60", and I'd love for them to be vertical, if possible.

Anyway. We don't have an Ikea locally, but I did just get their catalogue (though I confess I find it sort of hard to follow).

I store my fabric (most is 55" - 60" wide) in two horizontal file cabinets. Each cabinet has two drawers. Fabric is on bolts. I have the file cabinets under my cutting table and one sewing table. Easy to get to and they are out of the way as well. Also, I have a closet that I keep bolts of fabric in that I store on bolts, standing up.

Diana

------💐Diana💐

Bernina 830E 💝 1150MDA

✝The Lord is my Light and my Salvation: whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1✝

It could cause your fabric to deteriorate and turn yellow. How long this could take would depend on several factors: the condition and age of the bolt; how delicate the fabric is; how it is stored. Years ago I was told to take off my fabrics from the bolts. Some sew-ers had mentioned that they had had their fabrics damaged and wanted to warn others.

If the fabrics get ventilation (humid areas such as some basements would be bad) and average temps (most attics would be too hot) and stored out of the light, they might be safe for years on the bolts.

These bolts are not manufactured to last; they are meant as a short-term convenience to store fabric.

Some sew fast enough that this would not be a problem. I guess I like my fabric to age nicely, like fine wine, so I don't want to take a chance.

Similarly, needlework projects, such as crossstitch can be affected by some of the material used in the framing. A few years ago I undid all of my crossstitch, washed the fabric, and re-framed the pieces, using acid-free core board and acid-free mats. Of course there is more danger with framed pieces than sewing fabric as these are hung so exposed to light, dirt, and possibly, some moisture (humidity).

Your fabric may be fine for years. I am just offering this as something to be aware of and to keep in mind.

Thanks for your advice.
I did a lot of garment sewing years ago and in those days it was easy to find fabric from one of the many local shops. I'd decide what I wanted to make, find a pattern and fabric and sew! No need to store fabric.
It's only since I returned to sewing that I've started to stash, because local sources nowadays are much more limited.
Collecting fabric is addictive though, as many others before me have found. It's time to concentrate more on the sewing and less on than the stashing.

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